Teacher of the year charged with selling school textbooks on eBay

-- An Irrigon teacher and former educator of the year was indicted on theft and 43 counts of official misconduct Monday after having allegedly stolen $1,000 in textbooks and selling them on eBay.

In September, the Morrow County School District placed Forrest Dean McKinnis, 31, on administrative leave after reportedly discovering that textbooks stored in a closet were being sold on the Web site.

Morrow County Sheriff's Office arrested McKinnis later that month. He was released on his own recognizance.

According to the indictment McKinnis "unlawfully and knowingly commit(ted) theft ... The State further alleges that the property stolen had a value of $1,000 or more." The indictment states McKinnis, sold the books between July 27 and Sept. 15, which was an "unauthorized exercise of his official duties."

The 43 counts of official misconduct are for the books that McKinnis allegedly sold.

Mark Burrows, the superintendent of the Morrow County School District, said he could not comment on McKinnis' employment status.

McKinnis was a program director at Morrow Education Center, coached boys' basketball at Heppner High School for five years and was scheduled to coach the Riverside High School girls' basketball team. source>>>

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